Ealing Council leader Julian Bell tweeted at about 11.30pm: "Spoken to Ealing Borough Commander who tells me that the police have control of Ealing town centre."

Mr Bell's assurance comes as riots sweep across the capital with violence also erupting in Ealing town centre.

Riot police are sealing off Haven Green following reports of cars and buses in flame and masked youths marching outside Ealing Broadway station.

And Ealing Common councillor Jon Ball has tweeted a picture of two cars and the 65 bus set on fire on Haven Green just before midnight on Monday (8) night, as car windows smashed and damaged in other areas.

Sudha Venkataramana saw a car set on fire outside the family home just off Castlebar Road, Ealing, before 11pm. She said: "We heard loud noises on the street at about 10.45pm. There was a group of 20 to 25 teenagers on the street in Castlebar Road off Pinewood Grove. We heard them smashing car windows as they went by and set this car on fire.

"Almost all the cars parked outside have their windows smashed and dented. I can't believe this is happening, so unreal. I hope the culprits are caught and punished."

Our reporter was assaulted earlier in the evening and had his camera stolen after police sealed off Ealing Broadway and Ealing Broadway station.

All this comes after shops, bars and pubs in Ealing Broadway were asked to close around 5pm following police intelligence that violence could spark in the town centre - as horrifying riots spread across the capital.

Ealing Police are yet to give a formal statement.

A string of violence has spread across London following a protest in Tottenham, north London, on Saturday after Mark Duggan was killed by police last week. Mayor of London Boris Johnson is reportedly on his way back from holiday as the Met send deploy more police to the streets.